Nine elected to Claremont City Charter Commission

CLAREMONT — Voters chose nine candidates out of more than 30 running for a seat on the City Charter Commission.

The Charter Commission members are Russell "Rusty" Fowler with 243 votes, Philip "Joe" Osgood with 224 votes, Robert Porter with 198 votes, Nicholas Koloski with 192 votes, George Caccavaro Jr. with 175 votes, Ron Gilbert with 174 votes, Cynthia Howard with 173 votes, Raymond Gagnon with 156 votes and Paul LaCasse Sr. with 151 votes.About 7 percent or 452 voters out of the city's 6,472 registered voters turned out for the election Tuesday.

The city charter lays out the rules under which the city is governed. It has been more than a decade since the city established a Charter Commission to review and possibly amend the city charter.

The nine members are charged with reviewing the charter. Any changes proposed by the commission would come before voters.

City Manager Guy Santagate said Wednesday the City Clerk will be setting an initial organizational meeting date for the commission in early February.

The Commission is expected to choose a chairperson and set an agenda at the meeting, he said.

"They are required by law to have their initial report in by July, so there is a process," Santagate said. "We will be assisting them by providing space for their meetings to be held in City Hall Council Chambers."

A final report to the city is expected in September and a vote on any proposed changes to the city charter will come before voters in November.

"It's a great opportunity for the residents to have their say in what kind of government they want," Santagate said. "It's time and it will be their call."